CLUB RECEIVES KICK IT OUT AWARD

We are delighted that we have been successful in gaining this award from Kick It Out."

Jonathan Jackson

Wigan Athletic’s effort to promote diversity and inclusion have been recognised by leading anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.

Under the banner of ‘Together’ Latics have worked hard to promote the DW Stadium as a family friendly environment for people of any background to watch football while through its charity Wigan Athletic Community Trust, it runs sport, health and education projects that reach thousands of people a year across the borough.

The Club has been awarded the preliminary level of the Equality Standard for Professional Football Clubs. The Equality Standard is a framework which encourages and supports the development of equality practices and policies at professional clubs.

Over the last 12 months Kick It Out have reviewed all areas of the Club including its complaints reporting procedure, how the Club recruits employees and how it delivers activities and projects to under-represented groups in the community.

In partnership with the DW Stadium the Club also commissioned a special disability access audit to ensure that disabled supporters receive equal treatment as non-disabled fans.

Club Chief Executive Jonathan Jackson said: “We are delighted that we have been successful in gaining this award from Kick It Out.

“As part of our on-going commitment to helping the local community and in improving the match day experience for our fans we are committed to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone involved with the football club, whether they are a fan coming to the game or a member of staff working for us.”

“We are very grateful to Kick It Out for their support over the last year in helping us review and improve our policies and procedures around equality and diversity and we look forward to continuing to work with them.”

Director of Kick It Out Rosin Wood said: “We are pleased to award Wigan Athletic with the Preliminary Level of the Equality Standard.

“The Club has shown significant progress in improving equal opportunities for all internally and externally at the DW Stadium, in particular the strong link with Wigan Athletic Community Trust.

“The introduction of equality training for staff members has also been implemented to enhance the work of achieving the Preliminary Level. It is now with confidence that Wigan Athletic can move towards the next phase of progressing equality and diversity at the football club.”